Thursday, April 9th 2009, marked the largest tornado outbreak in the four state region since the Easter Sunday outbreak of 2000. Despite the large number of tornadoes, which destroyed or severely damaged several homes across the region, we can be thankful that no deaths were reported across the Shreveport NWS forecast region, and that only a few people were injured.

Survey teams from the NWS in Shreveport fanned out across the region on the morning of Friday, April 10th to survey the damage across the region. Survey teams found tracks of 12 seperate tornadoes,all located mainly along and north of Interstate 20.

Here is a more detailed look at one of the more significant tornadoes to occur with this event.

This storm developed over eastern Harrison County about 6 miles northwest of Waskom. This tornado first touched down about one half mile west of FM 134 at around 9:48 pm, continuing east across FM 9 about 3 miles north of Waskom, before entering western Caddo Parish at around 9:58 pm. Numerous trees were uprooted and snapped, especially east of FM 9, and across Highway 169. This tornado followed North Lakeshore Drive, with numerous homes damaged, some of which had their roofs partially removed. In addition, one of the homes was moved off of its foundation. Near I-220 and Blanchard Road, 12 empty railroad cars were blown off the track, with intermittent damage along Blanchard Road going into downtown Shreveport. Large tree limbs and power lines were downed, while road signs were downed as well. The tornado crossed the Red River south of the Diamond Jacks Casino, where numerous homes were damaged due to trees between Arthur Ray Teague Parkway and Barksdale Blvd. On Barksdale Blvd itself, numerous power poles were downed, with many businesses damaged, and damage to the west gate of Barksdale Air Force Base. The tornado lifted in eastern Bossier Parish along Highway 157 south of Haughton. This tornado was rated an EF2, with winds of around 120 mph, and the most extensive damage found in the Lakeview Subdivision on the north side of Cross Lake in Caddo Parish. The total path length from Harrison County Texas through Bossier Parish Louisiana was 38.5 miles. The path width fluctuated through this continuous track, varying from between 100 to 400 yards.

Radar imagery of the tornado outbreak. The tornado was located within the hook-like appendage on the south end of the supercell thunderstorm.